Golf VI

[Philly]

I like the front. Quite a lot. It looks modern and stylish while holding the tackiness.

As for the rear, well, where did that come from? The Touareg looks nice, but it's a big SUV. And was it designed before the MKV golf? Why are they going back in time to put it on a new car? They should've gone with something like the Scirocco, because those lights do not belong on a compact.

Engines? The 2.5 is rated the same as the 2.0 TFSI in terms of economy, so they may stick with that. Although I would like to see the 2.0 FSI come over here in some vehicle. The turbo will probably stay in the GTI and bigger cars.

It'll be interesting seeing a GTI version.

It probably won't look too different. There aren't many differences on the MKV, most notable being the grille and the red stripe. I'd bet on a red stripe of some kind on the grille and maybe a little work on the front end. The rears of both MKVs are very similar, so don't expect much improvement there.

Although I wonder if it'll even happen. I seem to recall VW releasing the MKV GTI before the Rabbit (at least I know they did here). If that is going to be the case here, then the Scirocco would be the GTI form of this car. If that was the case, I'd expect either no GTI variant over here (which would surprise me seeing that the GTIs are selling very well) or the Scirocco may find it's way over (which would be very cool) or maybe they would do what they did with the Wolfsburg Jetta and shove a 2.0 TFSI in a regular car and add a few badges, which would disappoint me as well.

 

[Tornado]

Its complicated. By selling the Mk V so cheap over here, the have virtually dictated that with the weak dollar they cannot lower the GTi any lower than it is without selling them at a loss. VoA also wants the Rabbit to be priced higher so they can finally start making money off of them.
While VAG wants to lower the Golf GTi's marketing position in Europe to be able to sell the Scirocco; VoA wanting wider profits on the entire Rabbit range in order to avoid losing on the dollar means the only real option is to not sell the Scirocco here at all, sadly. The Scirocco/GTi pricing problem in Europe would only be worse in America, and its doubtful that the Mk VI can fix that with our current economy.

 

[homeforsummer]

I kind of like the shape of the rear lights, but not the actual units themselves. It looks like it needs a round light element in the middle of the upper and lower sections to break it up and make it look a little more interesting, like the South African market CitiGolf based on the Mk1:

Or hell, even had an LED section like these aftermarket Golf Mk5 lights:

The VI loses the "fat arse" look of the V though I reckon, and looks a bit leaner side-on.

 

[YSSMAN]

RE: Getting the Golf or Scirocco in the USA

I'd say it depends on how/when the new plant goes up. I imagine they'll be building Golfs, but I could be wrong. I'd bet the Jetta would still get screwed together down in Mexico.

 

[harrytuttle]

So VW fixed the front and rear bumpers, but gave it mid-90's ghetto wheels? I hope those are concept-only.

Oh, and Mk1 GTI FTW. Everything else have been melted plastic models of the original.

 

[Muzaffar]

I don't know about you guys but making a 3dr Golf is just pointless and wasting money. If they are making the Golf cheaper and have both of the 3dr and 5dr available, whats the point of the Scirocco then? Unless that there is no GTi or R version available for the Golf and only for the Scirocco, then I could agree with that. But as Toronado said, making the Golf cheap in the U.S. is going to make VAG lose a lot of money.

But its kinda funny how true Clarkson said on TG that VAG are losing so much money despite selling pretty well. I mean, VAG spend over 5M Euro/USD on the Veyron and only selling it at 1/5 of the price. (and with the targa top on sale now, who knows how much they loss) Also, there are cheaper alternatives to the Golf, like the Seat and Skoda for example. I don't even know how VW works out all of this. Maybe thats why Porsche bought over 50% of the shares from VW to save their ass.....

 

[Philly]

I thought that one of the biggest reasons VW was eager to move past the MKV was so that they could use a design that would make them more money while still being priced competitively. Also remember that the only two VAG companies that actually sell any cars here are VW and Audi, so no SEAT or Skoda here.

I'm wondering if the Golf is the only car they aren't making money off of. They would certainly be in good shape if the Jetta was making money. Although I don't think they could live off the Passat and Touareg.

 

[YSSMAN]

Considering how the Golf and Jetta share all of their parts, there has to be some element of profitability between them. Then you factor in the A3 and the Passat which borrow a lot as well...

I think it seems quite logical to estimate that the MKV was losing money in the US as soon as it arrived in any form. Extending the life of the MKV as the MKVI makes a lot of sense financially, but, we'll see how it pays off in the future. We likely won't see the car for another year or so, so who knows.

IMO:

VW needs to get back to offering models for everyone. The GL covered almost everyone's bases, and the GLS was a significant enough step upward to keep everyone else happy. It keeps production costs down, doesn't confuse the customer as much, and ultimately extends the life of the car if they can get it all into one package.

Problem is, the MKIV was the beginning of the end for "affordable" VWs, and they're having to take a major loss to get back to that point. Work on the fuel efficiency and try to get insurance rates lower and I think they'll see more Americans come in.

 

[JCE]

I don't like it so far. Looks like a squashed Passat estate on the outside. Thankfully it'll be German and have a brilliant interior. That's two points above anything else really...minus the Euro Focus or Volvo C30.

 

[homeforsummer]

I don't know about you guys but making a 3dr Golf is just pointless and wasting money. If they are making the Golf cheaper and have both of the 3dr and 5dr available, whats the point of the Scirocco then?

The Scirocco is a niche product, and being aimed at a slightly different market. There will always be a market for a 3dr Golf, especially a GTI, and even if it overlaps with the Scirocco market the 'Rocco will still be taking sales from another manufacturer too (such as the BMW 1-series coupe, to which the Scirocco is seen as a direct competitior).

Whether a 3dr Golf/Scirocco takes sales from each other isn't that relevant, as there are so many cars on the Golf platform that VW has good economies of scale and producing a slightly different variant doesn't add to development and production costs like an entirely new model would.

What seems strange to me is how VAG USA got to the point where the Golf/Rabbit/whatever is priced so very low in comparison to it's competitiors, where elsewhere in the world it's marketed as a premium vehicle and priced accordingly. Did they get into a price war with another manufacturer or something? It seems like they're digging themselves into a hole because they'll likely have to sell the Mk6 even cheaper and it also means that as Americans keep downsizing, they'll struggle to bring in a smaller VW (such as a Polo) and be able to price it anywhere near a level that they can make a profit on without it significantly overlapping with the Golf.

 

[killer450235]

Just looks like a wider Golf to me,still good because its anti-rice

 

[Sage]

Official photos

 

[Leonidae]

hm.. I guess they're saving the R-model for later.

 

[FoolKiller]

I’m so happy they stole some elements from the Scirocco, especially the grille. I hope this marks the end of VW’s bucktooth–chrome-plated–pseudo-Audi nonsense.

I half agree. I am glad they dropped the Audi grill.

That said, I don't like this new grill either.

See my MkV Golf/Rabbit didn't do the Audi grill and did what I think looks even better than this MkVI design.

Color matching FTW!

 

[forza2.0]

apparently there wont be a R32. Makes sense as the 3.2 vr6 is dated and not all that good and seems to be getting ditched by audi in its newer models. Will probably live for a while yet in the TT though.

 

[Leonidae]

hm.. I agree, 3.2 was slightly underrated etc, but the sounds was just perfect. But, I dare to say that they might go for the new 3.6l V6 since it has more poke, and would finally enable Golf to compete seriously with WRX STi and Evo GSR.

 

[forza2.0]

Ive been hearing RSI ie Audi S3 with a VW badge.

 

[socomplayer2]

The more I come and look at this thread I like this car more and more. The 2 door is far better IMO. I'm sure the Gti is going to be even better looking. Hopefully they will be out in the US by 2011 because my MKV gti's lease will be up and I can just swap it out for a MKVI.

 

[homeforsummer]

Thanks for the Autoblog article Sage 👍

And after reading the press release... what pretentious tosh. They spout on and on about the design which is the obvious bit of what they've changed, and how all the engines are more advanced, and yet it's too damn obvious this Golf is going to be just as big and heavy as the model before it. Seems more like a glorified facelift than anything else.

Don't get me wrong I think this is a better looking vehicle than the MkV and I'm sure it'll be objectively better in most ways, but the VAG group seem to be one of the few manufacturers who aren't realising that cars need to be lighter now.

 

[Philly]

There are a few more pictures here. Unfortunately, the page is in German.

Outside of the more professional lighting and editing, the car really seems to look a lot more mainstream than upscale. And after looking at it long enough, I'm really quite surprised at how similar it is to the MKV. It has the same trunk, 3/4 panel, hood and other lines. It's really just a new front and rear bumper, set of lights and interior with a few extra lines added for good measure.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, you have to wonder if VW took a calculated risk by not changing the car too much because, after all, the MKV hasn't been around very long in some places. I mean, Mercedes gets away with dragging the same look out for decades with "new models," I think VW will be able to do the same. Either way, the Golf will likely remain one of the best-selling cars in the world.

 

[Philly]

It just seemed a little interesting that VW wanted to play with the current body instead of start afresh. Although, the MKV is a pretty good looking car. And of course, the MKIII and MKIV were both very similar cars too.

 

[Keef]

I think the current facelifted non-Audi MK5 is a better design considering what the car is. The new design looks cool, and I like it, but it looks almost just like the Scirocco. Obviously that doesn't effect the US market since we probably won't ever get the Scirocco, but I do know about the car and I know its roll in the lineup and I think that I'd rather have the GTI version of this Golf than the Scirocco. It'll be cheaper, very similarly capable, slightly more practical, and even the base model looks damn near the same.

Also, what's with European brands and these wheels that are solid chunks of metal? Aluminum is light, sure, but the more of it you have the more it weighs, and those wheels just look like they weigh 30 pounds a piece. And yet they strive for efficiency...

 

[forza2.0]

Thanks for the Autoblog article Sage 👍

And after reading the press release... what pretentious tosh. They spout on and on about the design which is the obvious bit of what they've changed, and how all the engines are more advanced, and yet it's too damn obvious this Golf is going to be just as big and heavy as the model before it. Seems more like a glorified facelift than anything else.

Don't get me wrong I think this is a better looking vehicle than the MkV and I'm sure it'll be objectively better in most ways, but the VAG group seem to be one of the few manufacturers who aren't realising that cars need to be lighter now.

it is a glorified facelift thats why.It will get a propper refresh when the A3 and leon get it also.

This is just like what audi did with the B6/B7 A4.

 

[Philly]

I think that I'd rather have the GTI version of this Golf than the Scirocco. It'll be cheaper, very similarly capable, slightly more practical, and even the base model looks damn near the same.

I'm thinking maybe the GTI will be faster. I'm hearing of a 110-ish hp engine in the Golf (which I assume is the GTI), while the Scirocco has the 200 hp unit, unless they upgrade that too. And isn't the Scirocco based on the MKV chassis? The MKVI is just an improvement of that chassis.

it is a glorified facelift thats why.It will get a propper refresh when the A3 and leon get it also.

I'd say it's a bit more than a facelift. The interior is all new, I'm guessing the body is a new design, using elements from the MKV and they used the MKV chassis as a starting point. I've heard that a lot of the components are all-new though.

 

[Jondot]

*Yawn*... It just looks like a watered down MkV from the front. I'm not impressed. The rear is even more bland - it looks like a frigging Touareg! And the interior doesn't look different enough to gain any interest. I mean if you concentrate reaaaallly hard you can see they've changed 98% of it, but at a glance it's the same really.

Sure it's nice enough, but I'm not exactly being wowed by the changes. Oh well.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Also, what's with European brands and these wheels that are solid chunks of metal? Aluminum is light, sure, but the more of it you have the more it weighs, and those wheels just look like they weigh 30 pounds a piece. And yet they strive for efficiency...

No doubt there'll be a BlueMotion model which will probably feature lighter alloys much like the Polo Bluemotion does.

 

[YSSMAN]

To Address the GTI Concerns...

VW insiders have revealed that the company plans to launch a 2009 VW GTI soon after the release of the 2009 VW Golf. The new GTI will use a 211 HP 2.0-liter four-cylinder, gaining 11 HP over the current model, but still far short of rivals like the 2008 MazdaSpeed3 and 2009 Subaru WRX. A more powerful GTI-R model will replace the R32 and rival the Japanese competition with 265 HP and 4WD. But why is the six-cylinder model being dropped?

Ever-tightening emissions regulations have killed the six-cylinder GTI, but hopefully the boosted four will provide a lighter, less nose-heavy vehicle with equivalent performance. To make up for the price premium both performance models are likely to carry over rivals, the GTI will bring Audi-like exterior upgrades in the form of a handsome bodykit and LED running lights. We'll continue to hold out hope that the 2009 VW Scirocco will make it stateside.

Seems reasonable I suppose, but I don't want to see the R32 go away. Especially when the R36 was supposed to come out years ago.

 

[Leonidae]

Amen. R32 was easily the best sounding Golf ever. HPG did a R36 swap on Golf, planted the 3.6l from Passat into Golf and twinturbocharged it. = FAST.

 

[Tornado]

So what Volkswagen is going to do is transplant the Audi S3 drivetrain into the Golf. That is both a good and bad thing.